The COVID-19 Healthcare E-Learning Platform, CoHELP, is an online training portal providing clinical and management staff essential knowledge needed to respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Papua New Guinea (PNG).

The online program, covering a broad range of topics related to COVID-19, includes interactive learning packages, live and recorded seminars, additional resources and discussion forums with local and international experts.

The 2021 training modules are available now.

Evaluation of CoHELP in 2020

The first two rounds of training in 2020 attracted 364 participants from PNG, with at least one person from each of its 22 provinces.

Evaluation from a sample of PNG participants showed positive feedback in the suitability and quality of the CoHELP modules and changes in knowledge and skills:

• More than half (58 per cent) found the online package easy or somewhat easy to use.
• Nearly 9 in 10 participants found the course somewhat or very relevant to their current role.
• Over 90 per cent would recommend the training program and found it informative, and useful. They liked that the program covered important topics and helped develop knowledge and skills.
• Respondents also noted how participating in the online training changed their clinical practice – for example, maintaining infection prevention and control measures and adapting to new challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic.
• All respondents felt they were prepared to manage a patient with COVID-19 after completing the training program.
• Respondents applied the knowledge and skills gained from CoHELP in training other health workers and providing COVID-19 education to patients and other community members.

Self-reported benefits to participants included flexible timing, a choice of which modules to complete, the availability of additional online resources, and meeting PNG and international experts in various fields related to COVID-19.

What participants have said

Sister Stella Aundambui was one of the graduates. She has been serving as a nursing officer for the last 13 years and has moved into an administrative role as an assistant training coordinator.

“While doing CoHELP online, I learnt most how to do online courses. I understand now the ‘new normal’ of COVID-19, and the ways of infection controls and how to apply in a clinical area. Receiving the certificate was the biggest boost for current training in the clinic.”

Sister Joyce Ategla is a paediatric nurse with the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority. She has been working with the Provincial COVID-19 Response Committee to set up triaging, screening, testing and training of staff on managing COVID-19 patients.

“I encourage clinicians and non-clinicians to register and use CoHELP because given the COVID-19 global epidemic, we all need to practice and take precautionary measures ourselves.”

Burnet Institute is one of CoHELP’s Implementation partners along with the PNG National Department of Health, the WHO Representative Office for PNG, and Johnstaff International Development (JID). It is funded by the Australian Government as part of the PNG-Australia Partnership for Development.

Technical input was provided by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS), the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM), the Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS), the Australian Paediatric Society (APS), the Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM), and staff from Port Moresby General Hospital and the PNG Institute of Medical Research.

2021 Training Schedule and How to Register

2021 Fourth Round

To register, visit cohelp.learnbook.com.au and click ‘Sign up’ at the bottom of the page.

For more information, contact [email protected] or WhatsApp/SMS +675 7572 6702

CoHELP is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP).